Oh, I can't contain my excitement as I share this adorable milestone with you all! It's a proud moment for us as parents, and I just have to gush about baby Isaac's first experience with food. You won't believe how adorable and eager he was to try something new!
You see, every time we sat down for our meals, little Isaac would be right there with us, sticking out his tongue and trying to lick his lips, almost like he was saying, "Hey, I want some of that too!" It was too cute for words, and we knew it was time to introduce him to the world of solid foods.
So, when Isaac turned six months old, we were all geared up and excited to let him taste his very first soft food. But hold on, there was a little twist. We had heard from our friends and read up on some baby food guidelines that said we should avoid adding salt and sugar to his meals until he turns one. At first, we were curious about this and wondered why it was necessary.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I hit the internet to find out more about why we should hold off on the salt and sugar. Here's what I discovered, and it totally made sense!
You see, babies rely solely on breastmilk (or formula) as their main source of nutrition until they reach the age of six months. During this time, they haven't been exposed to the taste of salt and sugar, and their tiny taste buds are entirely content with the natural flavors of breastmilk. So, when we introduce solid foods, it's essential to let them savor the natural goodness of these new tastes without added salt and sugar.
But why is adding salt to baby food a no-no? Let me tell you what I found out.
As it turns out, a baby's salt requirement per day is really minimal - less than 1 gram per day, to be precise. And guess what? Breastmilk or formula already meets most of this requirement. So when we add extra salt to their meals, it can put a burden on their tiny, developing kidneys. We certainly don't want those precious little organs to struggle with excessive load, do we?
In fact, studies have shown that excessive salt intake in childhood can have serious consequences later in life. From kidney disease to hypertension (yep, high blood pressure), too much salt during the early years can pave the way for health issues in adulthood. I don't know about you, but I definitely want my baby to grow up healthy and happy!
But that's not all. Did you know that excessive salt intake during childhood has been linked to other health problems too? Osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory illnesses are some of the issues that have been attributed to a salt-heavy diet during those early years.
Now, I don't know about you, but all this information was an eye-opener for us. It really drove home the importance of giving our little Isaac the healthiest start possible. And you know what? It's been incredible to see how he enjoys his meals even without all the added salt and sugar.
At first, we thought he might find it a bit bland, but oh boy, were we wrong! It's like he's discovering a whole new world of flavors, and it's heartwarming to see his little face light up with each spoonful of pure goodness.
As parents, it's our responsibility to make the best choices for our baby's well-being, and that includes their diet. And you know what the best part is? There are so many delicious and nutritious foods out there that are naturally low in salt and sugar. Fruits, veggies, and whole grains are just a few examples of the fantastic options we can introduce to our little ones.
So, to all the parents out there embarking on this delightful journey of introducing solid foods to your baby, let's keep in mind the importance of holding off on the salt and sugar. Trust me, it's worth it!
Seeing our little Isaac explore the world of flavors and textures has been an incredible experience. We can't wait to share more of his food adventures with you all on this blog. And hey, if any of you have some tasty and nutritious baby food recipes to share, please do let us know in the comments!
Until next time, happy feeding and here's to raising happy, healthy babies together!
According to SACN ² they recommend the following Salt Requirement for babies, toddlers, and children
AGE
|
MAXIMUM SALT INTAKE
|
0-6 months
|
< 1 g (0.4g of sodium)
|
6-12 months
|
< 1 g (0. 4g of sodium)
|
1-3 years
|
2 g (0.8g of sodium)
|
4-6 years
|
3 g (1.2g of sodium)
|
7-10 years
|
5 g ( 2 g of sodium)
|
Parents please make sure that you check the salt content of
the commercialized food that your baby is taking every day.
We also learned that sugar is not good for babies below 1
year old because of the following reasons:
1. Sugar is refined by lot of chemical processes which may
be harmful to children.
2. Excess sugar may cause caries and tooth decay in
children.
3. Excess of sugar may depress immunity.
4. Research has also shown that children fed with high sugar
diet were prone to cardiovascular, diabetes and obesity.
If you want to add sweeteners for babies you can use do the
natural way.
1. Any fruit can be added to baby food to make them
naturally sweet
2. Dates Syrup (After 8 months)
3. Honey (After 1 year)
Learn more about Natural sweeteners for Baby Food
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